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The Power of Dayanişma
by Larisa Schirba
On April 13, in Istanbul took place a trial of 17 socialists arrested during the police raids in September 2006. As part of the implementation of the Anti-Terror Law, which had been introduced in Turkey last summer, the state forces brutally dismissed a peaceful demonstration "Meeting for Justice and Freedom" in the square next to the 9th Heavy Penal Court. Textile workers and shipbuilders trade unions, confederation of trade unions DISK, workers of the newspapers Atılım, Dayanışma and radio Özgür, as well as socialist organizations, such as Socialist Platform of the Oppressed (ESP), Labouring Women's Association (EKD), Socialist Youth Association (SGD) and others came to express their solidarity with the imprisoned comrades and demand their freedom. In response, the police force attacked the demonstrators with batons and gas bombs. Most of the international delegates who arrived from Russia, Canada, England, Colombia, Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, France, and Switzerland specifically to observe this trial were hindered by this attack from entering the court room. The day prior to the hearing the observers sold the newspaper Atılım on the street in solidarity with the arrested journalists, and after participated in press conferences expressing their aversion to such state brutality.
To express solidarity with the imprisoned socialists and communists from Russia arrived Sergey Skvortsov, General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (
www.kpss.org) and Vladimir Lepikhov, First Secretary Assistant and Head of Press Centre of the CPSU. Even though seasoned fighters on the Moscow barricades, the Russian comrades commented on the amount of police force and weapons used as absolutely disproportional. Approximately 500 demonstrators were hit with severe beatings and an amount of gas unseen in Moscow for such a relatively modest size rally. In search for friends scattered by the attack I walked along the beach close to the university near which the court was located. Every 20 to 50 metres I bumped into heavily equipped police and military, as well as promenading locals and tourists no one seemed to feel uneasy. I suppose, one can confidently say he is living in a police state when no one is disturbed, surprised or frightened by such proximity and vigilance of people with guns.The entire anti-terror pretext and atmosphere can be shattered by a mere glimpse into the court room where the majority of the arrested were petite women in their twenties surrounded tightly by two rows of heavily armed muscular men; one being a row of Gendarmeries a special unit for fighting terrorism, and as if they were not enough to hold those monstrous terrorists in skirts, regular policemen made a second row. The court yard was full of police busses with bars on the windows and well trained youngsters in uniform resembling bulldogs on a leash, almost drooling in anticipation of the command "Go get them!" During every court brake one could see more and more squadrons, panzers and busses heading in new directions for more arrests. It may seem ironic that right at the moment when some arrested are on trial, the state is busy arresting more. That night 114 people were arrested, 31 released and 81 taken to court the following day. However, what is more astounding than the unprecedented efficiency of the Turkish police machine, which like a conveyer releases some just to replace their cells with more arrested, is the determination of young and mature men and women who after the militant dismissal of the rally, knowing that the odds are they will be arrested, beaten, taken to Vatan torture centre and who knows what next, tirelessly go out and challenge this machine and speak up for their friends in the court rooms and prisons. Perhaps, this is the answer to comrade Skvortsovs question: "Why so many police force for such little group?" This kind of determined resistance is hard to beat for any police machine.
In the court room I sit on a bench staring at a young policeman in front of me, wondering what path in life brought him here and listening to the defence of 40 lawyers (80 lawyers in total prepared the defence for 17 imprisoned, but only 40 spoke in court). I hold the hand of a woman whose two sons are among the tried: Cem Dinç, President of the shipbuilders union Limter-Is and Halil Dinç, news coordinator of socialist radio Özgür. The woman and I both cry. Not because of despair, but because of the sanctity of the moment and sense of togetherness. Because of the language barrier we cannot speak, so we communicate by exchanging the warmth of our hands, gentle touches and rubs replace words. The womans husband asks her about me: "Who is she?" Mrs. Dinç explains: "She came from Canada (to be with our sons and their friends)". And the man who has just met me for the first time joins our newly born camaraderie: "My home is your home. You can come and stay with us any time you want". I still cry every time I recall this moment. This experience is called "dayanışma and is extremely important for all of us to put to practice in order to stay together in the struggle.
As a result of this court, to a great degree due to the enormous self sacrificial efforts of the comrades of the imprisoned and practical support of their international friends, 10 out of 17 arrested socialists were set free, among them Cem and Halil Dinç. The other 7, as well as many others arrested since September 2006, are expecting a new trial. Proposed sentence for many is 10-45 years and for some lifetime or several lifetimes in prison. There are more trials to come. The battle continues.
And if you are still curious about what "dayanışma means, write to NSC and I will tell you more.
Power to the People
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These photographs speak much louder
than words could:
here is the ugly face of Turkish fascism!
Click here to return to the July/August 2007 index.
